ADHD Assessments for Children and Adolescents

Determining if your child needs an ADHD assessment involves recognising certain signs and behaviours that may indicate the presence of ADHD. Here are some indicators to consider: 

Inattention: Difficulty paying attention, easily distracted, trouble staying focused on tasks or activities. 

Hyperactivity: Excessive fidgeting, restlessness, difficulty staying seated, constant movement even in inappropriate situations. 

Impulsivity: Acting without thinking, interrupting others, difficulty waiting for turns, making impulsive decisions. 

Academic Challenges: Struggling in school despite effort, falling behind peers academically, inconsistent performance. 

Behavioural Issues: Difficulty following instructions, frequent conflicts with peers or authority figures, impulsively blurting out answers or comments. 

Organisational Problems: Trouble with organisation, frequently losing or misplacing items, forgetfulness. 

Social and Emotional Difficulties: Difficulty making and keeping friends, low self-esteem, emotional outbursts, mood swings. 

Typically, we recommend sending any previous assessment reports (e.g. OT, SLT, Educational report) or school reports before the online consultation. That way, your psychologist has time to review all of the documents beforehand, which can be instrumental in determining if a comprehensive ADHD assessment is necessary.

There is no one test (medical or otherwise) that children take for ADHD. Instead, an ADHD assessment for a child involves a series of steps to gather information about the child’s behaviour and determine if they might have ADHD. For further information on what a gold standard ADHD assessment should include, please refer to our procedure section above. 

At Access Psychology, ADHD assessments are conducted by our team of experienced psychologists. When you book in with one of our psychologists, they will guide you through the entire assessment process, from the initial consultation to the feedback session. Your designated psychologist will be with you every step of the way, available to answer questions and provide support as you navigate this journey. 

We understand that many parents have unfortunately experienced lengthy waitlists and delays when seeking assessments for their children. That is why we strive to eliminate this stress. From the initial consultation to the feedback session and handover of the report, our goal is to complete the entire process within 6 weeks. We’re committed to providing timely support so that your child can receive the help they need as soon as possible. 

While we offer the flexibility and convenience of online assessments for adults, we prefer to complete the testing component of the assessment with your child in clinic. This approach allows us to ease them into the process through interactive activities and games. Meeting in person also enables us to build rapport and address any anxieties they may have about the assessment, ensuring a comfortable and supportive environment throughout the assessment process. 

Most likely, yes. While we can sometimes accommodate Saturday appointments, typically, assessments are scheduled on weekdays. We advise morning appointments as the testing session can be mentally taxing for your child. Therefore, it’s important that your child does not attend school beforehand to ensure they are at their best during the assessment. 

The approach to discussing the assessment with your child can vary based on individual preferences and the child’s age. Some parents choose to be transparent with their child, explaining that they are going for an ADHD assessment to understand how they can be best supported at school and at home. This explanation is often recommended for older children and teenagers. On the other hand, some parents may prefer not to disclose the specific purpose of the assessment, particularly with younger children. In these cases, we explain to the child that everyone has a unique brain and learns in different ways. The tasks we do in clinic help us understand what their brain is good at and what it finds more challenging, as well as how it learns best. We liken it to getting a printout of their brain, helping them understand the process in a way that feels accessible and comfortable for them. 

On the day of the in-person testing, you and your child will arrive at our clinic in Dublin. Initially, our psychologist will invite you into the room with your child to play some introductory games and activities together, helping your child feel comfortable and settled in the new environment. Once your child is feeling at ease, we’ll invite you to wait in our cosy waiting area. The testing process usually takes around 2.5 to 3 hours to complete. However, if your child starts to feel tired or overwhelmed during the assessment, don’t worry! We prioritise their well-being, and if needed, we’ll pause the session and reschedule the remaining tests for another day, at no extra charge. 

You’re welcome to bring snacks for your child if you’d like, but rest assured, we provide water and a snack during the assessment. However, please do let us know beforehand if your child has any food intolerances or specific dietary needs so we can accommodate them accordingly. 

If your child is diagnosed with ADHD, the report you receive from the psychologist will include a comprehensive list of recommendations for supports to be implemented at home and school. These recommendations are tailored to address your child’s specific needs and may include strategies for managing ADHD symptoms, creating structured routines, and accessing educational accommodations. Additionally, if the assessment identifies any additional difficulties or challenges, the report may recommend onward referral to other services, such as Occupational Therapy (OT) or Speech and Language Therapy (SLT), to provide further support. If emotional or behavioural challenges are identified during the assessment, we offer interventions directly with your child and/or indirectly with parents. Our team includes psychologists specialised in working with children and families, particularly those who are neurodivergent.